On January 12, 2026, OpenAI partnered with Common Sense Media to promote the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act in California. This groundbreaking initiative aims to safeguard children from potential risks associated with online chatbots. Key features include mandatory age assurance technology for users under 18, child protection settings, and parental controls over AI interactions. Additionally, the act seeks to ban child-targeted advertising and mandates independent safety audits of AI companies by the California attorney general. CEO James P. Steyer emphasized the urgency of preventing another youth mental health crisis linked to AI, echoing past mistakes made with social media. With nearly 75% of teenagers engaging with AI chatbots, experts warn of the dangers these technologies pose to children. This proposal marks a significant step toward regulating AI chatbot usage among minors, especially following lawsuits alleging that OpenAI contributed to tragic outcomes among vulnerable youth.
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